Trending is a term used by social media platforms like Twitter, TikTok, and Facebook to highlight keywords, hashtags, or topics that are popular on the platform at a given moment. These trends are determined by algorithms that analyze user activity and determine which topics and content are most interesting and relevant to viewers. The popular topics are then displayed on the platform’s homepage or within its Explore or Trending area (e.g. TikTok’s FYP).
While the concept of trending was originally introduced by Twitter, it is now common practice on other platforms and in the news. The popularity of a topic or subject is measured by the number of people searching for it, posting about it, and engaging with related content. In addition, social media and news outlets frequently use trends as a way to keep their audiences informed on current events.
Using the Trending feature in your business can be a great way to drive awareness and engagement for your brand. However, it is important to remember that the people who are most interested in a topic may not always be your target audience. This is why it’s crucial to understand your target demographic and what type of content they are most likely to engage with.
Trending can be a powerful tool for marketers but it should be used wisely. Businesses should make sure that any content they share with followers is relevant to the topic at hand, and does not have the potential to offend or cause controversy. It’s also important to be aware that if a topic is trending, other businesses and individuals are likely trying to take advantage of the opportunity as well. This could result in a “trend hijack” where unrelated keywords or hashtags are added to posts in an attempt to increase visibility on the Trending list. While this tactic is not uncommon, it can draw ire from the social media site and in extreme cases lead to account suspension.
As a general rule, it is best to avoid trend hijacking altogether as it is considered in poor taste by Twitter and other platforms. If you do decide to try and capitalize on a trending topic, make sure that your content is unique and engaging. Posting irrelevant content not only draws ire from the site but can also damage your reputation as a credible source of information.
In an attempt to counteract the trend of trend hijacking, TikTok has recently started displaying a list of Trends on its homepage and in its Explore tab. These trends are curated by the platform to ensure that users are viewing accurate and appropriate content. The trends are based on a number of factors including geographic location, time of day, and the popularity of specific keywords or terms.
While these new trends aren’t yet widely available, they could be a great way for businesses to reach a larger audience and promote their content. It is still early days, but it will be interesting to see how this new method of determining Trends will evolve and if it can prevent some of the issues that have plagued the platform in the past.